Cyclone Nisarga lashes Konkan coast and Pune

Mumbai: The Konkan region was hard hit by the cyclone Nisarga, which developed in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. One person from the Raigad District and two people from Pune were killed in the cyclone. Trees fell at many places in Ratnagiri and Raigad districts because of the winds rampaging at 100-120 kilometres per hour. Electric poles, houses near the coastline and fishing boats were damaged. Major casualties were averted as people from the coastal areas were either moved to the safer places or were advised to stay indoors following the cyclone alert. After its landfall in Alibaug, in the Raigad district, the cyclone changed course and moved in the direction of Pune and Nashik thereby, ending the cyclone threat to coastlines of Mumbai and Gujarat.

The cyclone Nisarga caused major damage on the Konkan Coast. Under the effect of this cyclone, there were rains on the Konkan coastline and in western and northern Maharashtra from Tuesday itself. There were heavy rains in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts in Konkan. Stormy winds and heavy rains lashed Ratnagiri and Raigad. The speed of the wind increased as the cyclone approached the coastline. This resulted in the incidents of trees and electric poles toppling. There was a power failure in many parts, and mobile services were also disrupted. Shrivardhan, Murud and Alibaug in the Raigad district suffered maximum damages.

The cyclone had a landfall on Wednesday at about 1.30 in the afternoon at Alibaug. The cyclone was predicted to move northward taking a path through Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and then into Gujarat. Therefore, the administration had made all the arrangements to minimise the possible damages. Mumbai airport was also shut down. But after the landfall, the cyclone moved in the direction of Pune and Nashik from Alibaug. Therefore, Pune was lashed by torrential rains. The torrential rains have caused massive damages in Khed, Junnar, Mulshi talukas, of Pune district. Three people were killed in these talukas. Late in the night, the cyclone transformed into a low-pressure zone and due to this, a possibility of heavy to very heavy rains has been predicted in Nashik and Pune districts.

Meanwhile, the details of the damages caused in the Konkan coast and Pune have not been revealed till now.